Defined/Despised

“I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:1-4 ESV)

Everyone loves Jesus until you define who Jesus is. Let us use Christmas as an example. At Christmas time everyone loves the holiday, everyone loves the principles and traditions of Christmas. Most everyone knows Christmas is when the birth of Jesus is celebrated.

Everyone at Christmas loves Jesus. Yet we have so diluted Christmas that the most expensive Christmas tree was located in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates. The tree was located in a mall in Abu Dhabi and was valued at 11 million dollars. In a Muslim country where you dare not convert to Christianity, the most expensive Christmas tree found its home. How does that work? On the day we celebrate His birth, pastors will remind people to remember the reason for the season, to keep the “Christ” in “Christmas.”

Mormons love Jesus, Seventh Day Adventists, Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists all love Jesus until you define Him. If Jesus is just a good teacher, a prophet, a good man, they will all love Him until you define Him. If you define Him for who He truly is, they will flee like rats on a sinking ship.

Galatians 4:4 is a passage that defines Christ. It begins with Paul writing, “But when the fullness of time had come.” Time, not a random time. Not a time out of desperation, a time when things were so bad,” God had to do something, but a fullness of time. Jesus’ birth was providential. It was planned, and designed to occur when God’s plan was ready, fully met, and stage set, it was providential. God sent forth His Son. God sent God. Knowing the existence of the Trinity, God sent Christ, His son, in agreement within the Trinity and according to God’s plan so that His elect could be redeemed.

Born of a woman, providential. “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15 ESV). In Genesis, we are not told when this child will be born, but God said the offspring of the woman would come. In the fullness of God’s time, Jesus came born of woman.

Born under the law, as a human, born in the flesh, He came to redeem those under the law. A teacher cannot redeem you from the law. Praise God for every teacher, but they cannot redeem you from the law. Prophets cannot save humankind. Good men can do good things, but teachers, prophets, and good men cannot resurrect the heart of a sinner. A miracle needs to occur and only God can facilitate the miracle.

The only thing that will work is for God to send His son. Born of a woman, therefore representing the wretched rest of us so that we could be redeemed by His atoning sacrifice. So, that is what God did, and that is how Jesus is defined. Offended may be the Christmas lovers of Jesus, but blessed are those who have died with Him and are resurrected with Him.

Grace and Peace!